Rotary light sequence switch device



Aug 21, 1962 c. YAKEM 3,050,597

ROTARY LIGHT SEQUENCE SWITCH DEVICE Filed March 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. .1.

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PXW M 9M Aug. 21, 1962 c. YAKEM ROTARY LIGHT SEQUENCE SWITCH DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1960 FIG.

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United States Patent ()fifice 3,050,597 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 3,050,597 ROTARY LIGHT SEQUENCE SWITCH DEVICE Charles Yakem, 610 Soles St., McKeesport, Pa. Filed Mar. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 17,630 1 Claim. (Cl. 200-19) This invention relates to rotary switches, and more particularly to a switch device for intermittently interrupting the flow of current through circuits containing electric lamps, whereby to provide a predetermined sequence of energization of said lamps and various combinations of said lamps.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved automatic rotary switch device for providing a predetermined sequence of energization of a group of lamps, for example, lamps employed in conjunction with advertising displays or in conjunction with decorative lighting displays, the switch device being simple in construction, being easy to install, and providing an un usual sequence of energization of the lamps with which it is employed, said sequence containing individual energizations of the lamps and also the energization of predetermined groups of lamps in a particular sequence.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved light sequence switch device which involves relatively simple components, which is durable in construction, and which provides a large number of different lamp lighting combinations during each cycle of operation of the switch device, whereby the device may be employed to provide spectacular and unusual flashing light displays involving the incorporation of a relatively large number of different light patterns which are sequentially displayed and which are particularly effective in conjunction with the use of colored lamps.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an improved light sequence switch device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational View of the light sequence switch device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the light sequence switch device of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of the light sequence switch device of FIGURES 1 to 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a wiring diagram showing a typical lamp circuit employing the light sequence switch device of FIGURES 1 to 5.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved light sequence device constructed in accordance with the present invention. The device 11 comprises a suitable insulating support 12, which may be of any convenient shape, for example, which may be generally rectangular in shape, as illustrated. The rectangular support 12, shown .in the figures, comprises a plateli ke body of insulating material, such as Bakelite, or any other well known plastic material of suitable mechanical strength.

Designated at 13 is a sleeve-like rotor element which extends rotatably through an aperture 14 formed in the center portion of the insulating body 12 and which is secured on the end portion of the shaft 15 of an electric motor 16 located behind the insulating body 12 Thus, the shaft 15 extends into the sleeve-like rotor member .13 and is fastened thereto by a set screw 17 threadedly engaged in the member 13, as is clearly shown in FIG- URE 5. The motor 16 is formed with the supporting flange 18 which is provided at its top and bottom with respective supporting lugs 19 and 20. Fastening bolts 21 and 22. extend through the lugs 19 and 2 0 and are threadedly engaged in the insulating body 12, respective spacing sleeves 23 and 24 being engaged around the bolts 21 and 212 to space the motor 16 from the body 12 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The motor 16 is provided with the terminals 26 and 27 which extend downwardly from the rear portion of the motor housing, as shown in FIGURE 3, and which are connected to a suitable energizing source in a manner presently to be described.

Designated at 30 is a first arcuate conductive contact element which is of arcuate plate-like configuration and which is secured in the front surface of the insulating body 12 concentrically with the rotor member 13. As shown in FIGURE 2, the arcuate contact element 30 is of substantially angular extent, and in the specific embodiment herein illustrated subtends an angle of approximately 160. Designated respectively at 31, 32, 33, 34 and 55 are spaced, relatively short additional conductive contact elements secured in the front surface of the insulating body 12 on an arc of substantially the same radius as the first contact element 30 and concentric therewith, the group of short arcuate contact elements 31 to 35 being located directly opposite the first contact element 30, as shown in FIGURE 2, and subtending a total angle of approximately 120 degrees. As shown in FIGURE 2, the respective short contact elements are spaced apart by substantially the same distances, but a substantial spacing exists between the ends of the large arcuate contact member 30 and the terminal arcu-ate contact elements 31 and 35", the angular spacings at these regions, designated respectively at 36 and 37 in FIGURE 2 being approximately Designated at 39 is a conductive contact arm which is secured to the outer end of the rotor member 13, as by means of a clamping screw 38 which extends through the central portion of the conductive contact arm 39 and is threadedly engaged in the rotor sleeve member 13, rigidly securing the arm to the sleeve member. The contact arm is formed with a first radial resilient contact finger 40 which is of sutficient length to be conductively engageable with the stationary contact elements 30 to 35 and which is provided with a rounded contact bearing element urged inwardly toward conductive engagement with the stationary elements 30 to 35 by the resiliency of the finger member 40. Designated at 41 to 45 are additional resilient radial contact fingers formed on the contact arm 39 opposite the first radial finger 40 and being angularly spaced so as to be simultaneously engageable with the relatively short stationary contact elements 31 to 35 when the first finger 40 engages the mid portion of the relatively long stationary contact member 30, as is illustrated in FIGURE 2. Thus the adjacent radial contact fingers 41 to 45 subtend an angle of approximately corresponding to the angle subtended by the stationary contact elements 31 to 35, and the contact finger 40 is located diametrically opposite the middle finger element 43 of the group of adjacent contact fingers 41 to 45.

The contact fingers 41 to 45 are provided with the rounded indentations 51 at their ends similar to the rounded indentation 50 provided on the contact finger 40, the fingers 41 to 45 being resilient and urging the indentations 51 toward the front face of the insulating body 12 and toward engagement with the contact elements mounted in the body.

The motor 16 is of the slow speed type, and is arranged with suitable gearing to cause the shaft 15 to rotate at a relatively slow speed of the order of one revolution per minute.

Referring to FIGURE 6, a typical circuit diagram is illustrated showing the manner in which the light sequence switch device 11 is employed in conjunction with a group of five lamps 61 to 65 to sequentially energize same in different combinations. Thus, a pair of line wires 66 and 67 are connected to a suitable source of power, for example, to a domestic alternating current electric outlet, the line wire 67 being connected to the motor terminal 27 and the line wire 66 being connected to the motor terminal 26 through a manually control ed switch at and a terminal wire 69 leading to motor terminal 26, as shown in FIGURE 6. The arcuate stationary contact element 30 is connected to the terminal Wire 69 by a Wire 70. One terminal of each of the lamps 61 to 65 is connected to a common wire 71 which is connected to the line wire 67. The remaining terminals of the lamps 61 to 65 are connected to the respective short stationary arcuate contact elements 31 to 35 by respective wires 72 to 76.

When switch 68 is closed, motor 16 becomes energized through the line wire 66, switch 63, wire 69, the motor winding, and line Wire 67, causing the rotor element 13 and contact arm 39 to rotate at a constant speed. Due to the configuration of the contact arm 39 and the spacing and relative lengths of the stationary contact elements 30 to 35, a relatively large number of different combinations of energizations of lamps 61 to 65 is produced during each cycle of rotation of the motor shaft 15. In the particular arrangement illustrated herein, the lamps are energized in twelve different combinations and the cycle includes two periods of extinction of the lamps, as will be presently described.

It will be seen that in the position of the rotor member 39 shown in FTGURE 6, all of the lamps 61 to 65 are energized, since the lamps are connected through the fingers 41 to 45 and the finger 40 to the line wire 66 through arcuate contact element 36, wire 70 and Wire 69. As previously mentioned, one terminal of each lamp is connected to the line wire 67 through the wire 71. The remaining terminals of the lamps are connected to the respective contacts 31 to 35. With the finger elements 41 to 45 engaging the arcuate contact elements 31 to 35, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, said remaining terminals of the lamps are connected through finger elements 46 to the arcuate contact element 36, and thus are connected to line wire 66 through wire 76, wire 69, and switch 68. Assuming the rotation of the arm 39 to be in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 6, the next combination of lamps to be energized will comprise the lamps 62 to 65, since finger 41 leaves contact element 31 and engages contact element 32, and finger 45 leaves contact element 35, contact element 35 being then engaged by the finger 44. The following is a listing of the sequence which occurs during a complete cycle of revolution of the rotor element 13:

(a) Lamps 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 are energized.

(b) Lamps 62, 63, 64 and 65 are energized.

(c) Lamps 63, 64, and 65 are energized.

(d) Lamps 64 and 65 are energized.

(e) Lamp 65 is energized.

(f) All the lamps are extinguished.

(g) Lamp 61 becomes energized. (Contact finger 46 engages arcuate contact element 31 with fingers 45 and 44 engaging the arcuate contact element 36.)

(h) Lamp 62 is energized, as finger 46 moves from contact element 31 to contact element 32.

(i) Lamp 63 is energized.

(j) Lamp 64 is energized.

(k) Lamp 65 is energized.

(I) All the lamps are extinguished, as contact finger 40 moves from contact element 35 into the gap 37.

(m) Lamps 61, 62 and 63 are energized, since, due to the spacing of fingers 43, 44 and 45 with respect to the finger 40, said fingers respectively engage the contacts 31, 32 and 33 when the finger 40 engages the end of the arcuate contact element 30 adjacent the gap 37.

(/1) Lamps 61, 62, 63 and 64 are energized, since finger 42 engages contact element 31 and fingers 43, 44 and 45 engage the contact elements 32, 33 and 34.

(0) Lamps 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 are energized, reestablishing the starting position of the cycle.

From the above it will be readily apparent that a large number of different combinations of energizations of the lamps are provided by the light sequence switch device 11, and this may be utilized to provide spectacular and interesting sequential lighting effects, particularly if certain of the lamps 61 to 65 are colored, or if different groups of lamps are arranged to provide specific patterns. While single lamps are illustrated in FIGURE 6 for each of the circuits sequentially energized, obviously, the lamps 61 to 65 may be replaced by groups of lamps connected in parallel.

While a specific embodiment of an improved light sequence switch device and lamp circuit have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A switch device comprising an insulating support, a rotor element rotatably mounted in and extending through said support, a first arcuate conductive contact element mounted on said support concentric with said rotor element and being of substantial angular extent, a plurality of uniformly spaced relatively short additional conductive contact elements mounted on said support directly opposite said first contact element on an arc of substantially the same radius and subtending an arc of substantially the same length as that subtended by said first contact element and being concentric therewith, a conductive contact arm secured to said rotor element, respective angularly spaced resilient contact fingers integrally formed on said arm and being spaced apart by the same angles as said short contact elements and being of sufficient length to simultaneously engage said short contact elements, a further resilient contact finger integrally formed on said contact arm and extending directly opposite said firstnamed fingers, said last-named finger being engageable with the mid portion of the first contact element when the first-named fingers simultaneously engage said relatively short contact elements, an electric motor drivingly connected to said rotor element, and a pair of energizing conductors connected to said motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 342,748 Howell May 25, 1886 735,077 Everest Aug. 4, 1903 1,172,583 Collier Feb. 22, 1916 1,768,299 Simon June 24, 1930 1,775,489 Gould Sept. 9, 1930 2,077,684 Gensburg Apr. 20, 1937 2,755,347 Allison July 17, 1956 

